How to Play Rummy

Junglee rummy, India’s most trusted rummy website offers you a plethora of variants to play and has detailed tutorials to bring out the player in you. Read on to learn the basics of the game in this easy to understand detailed guide.

Rummy Rules - Getting Started

The rules of Indian Rummy are simple: You need to arrange all the cards in your hand to form at least two sequences, out of which one has to be a pure sequence. The other remaining cards can be arranged into valid sequences and/or sets in a rummy game. Follow the step-by-step instructions to learn how to play Indian Rummy game:

How to Play Rummy - Basic Concepts

Sequence

A sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit.

For example:
3♥4♥5♥
3♥, 4♥ and 5♥ are three consecutive cards of the same suit ♥

A♣ K♣ Q♣ J♣
A♣, K♣, Q♣ and J♣ are four consecutive cards of the same suit ♣

Set

A set is a group of three or four cards of the same value in different suits.

For example:
A♥A♣A♦
All the A’s are of different suits ♥ ♣ ♦

7♦7♣7♠7♥
All the 7’s are of different suits ♦ ♣ ♠ ♥

Note: All the cards in a set have to be of different suits in a rummy game. If two or more cards of the same suit are used, it will be considered as an invalid set. A set cannot have more than four cards. So, if you add a joker to a set of four cards, it will be considered as an invalid set.

Check out the examples of invalid sets and learn how to play a rummy card game in the right way:

Q♠ is the Wild Joker
K♥ K♥ K♦
Invalid Set: It has two Ks of the same suit ♥

7♦ 7♣ 7♦ 7♥
Invalid Set: It has two 7s of the same suit ♦
7♦ 7♣ 7♦ 7♥ Q♥
Invalid Set: It has five cards including a wild joker.

How to Play Rummy with Jokers

Two types of jokers are used in rummy. They serve special roles that can help you to win a rummy game:

Wild Joker:When a rummy game begins, a wild joker is selected randomly from the closed deck that can be used in place of any other card.

For example:
If Q ♥ is selected as the wild joker, then Q of any suit can be used as the wild joker.
Q♠ is the Wild Joker
4♦ 5♦ Q♠ 7♦
Q♠ has replaced 6♦ to form a sequence of 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦

A♦ Q♣ A♠ A♥
Q♣ has replaced A♣ to form a set of A♦ A♣ A♠ A♥

Printed Joker (PJ): Printed jokers also serve the same role in rummy games. If you get printed jokers in your hand, you can use them to replace any other cards to form sets and sequences. See the groups below and learn how to play Indian Rummy games with Printed Jokers.

3♦ 4♦ PJ 6♦
PJ has replaced 5♦ to form a sequence of 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♦

2♦ PJ 2♠ 2♥
PJ has replaced 2♣ to form a set of 2♦ 2♣ 2♠ 2♥Note: If the Printed Joker is randomly selected as the wild joker, then A’s of all suits will become wild jokers.

Types of Sequences

Now, you know that a sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. You should also know that there are two types of sequences are used in 13 card rummy games. Learn how to play a rummy card game with pure and impure sequences:

Pure Sequence: A pure sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit formed without any joker. View the examples below to learn how to play rummy with pure sequences:

3♥ 4♥ 5♥
Here no joker (printed or wild) is used to form a pure sequence.

8♠ 7♠ 6♠ 5♠ 4♠
Similarly, no joker (printed or wild) is used to form a pure sequence.

Impure Sequence: An impure sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit formed with one or more jokers. Check out the examples to learn how to play rummy with impure sequences:

4♦ 5♦ Q♠ 7♦
Q♠ is used as a wild joker to replace 6♦ to form a sequence of 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦

Note: Wild Jokers can be used to form pure sequences if they are arranged in the same suit

K♥ Q♥ J♥
Here, even if Q♥ is the wild joker, it can be used to form a pure sequence, as K♥, Q♥ and J♥ are of the same suit ♥

Game Play

Rummy is called as one of the most popular card game of picks and discards. Therefore, picking and discarding cards is one of the main aspects of learning how to play rummy card game:

(i) First Pick a card from either Closed or Open Deck.
(ii) Then, discard one of the cards to the Open Deck.

How to Win in Rummy

When you have arranged all the cards in your hand into proper sequences and/or sets, including one pure sequence, you need to declare the game by discarding one of the cards to the Finish Slot. After you have declared the rummy game, you need to arrange your cards into proper sequences and/or sets to show them to your opponents and wait for them to show their hands.

Valid Declaration

Example #1:
A♥ 2♥ 3♥ 4♥| 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ | 8♦ 8♠ 8♣ | K♠ K♦ K♣
This is a valid declaration as it meets the objective of the game.
(i) All the 13 cards are arranged in valid sequences and sets.
(ii) It has a minimum of two sequences - A♥ 2♥ 3♥ 4♥ and 5♣ 6♣ 7♣. Both are pure sequences and meet the game objective of having at least two sequences, out of which one is a pure sequence. View the examples below to learn how to play rummy game and make valid declarations:

Example #2:
10♥ is the Wild Joker
A♥ 2♥ 3♥ 10♥| 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ | 8♦ 8♠ 8♣ | K♠ K♦ K♣
This is a valid declaration as it meets the objective of the game.
(i) All the 13 cards are arranged into valid sequences and sets.
(ii) It has a minimum of two sequences - 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ and A♥ 2♥ 3♥ 10♥. Here, 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ is a pure sequence, and A♥ 2♥ 3♥ 10♥ is an impure sequence. It meets the objective of the game of having at least two sequences, out of which one is a pure sequence. Remember the right way to make a valid hand and learn how to play Indian Rummy in the right way:

Wrong Declaration

Example #1: Invalid Set
A♥ 2♥ 3♥ 4♥ 5♥ | 4♣ 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ | 8♦ 8♦ 8♥ 8♣ |
A set is a group of three or four cards of the same face value with different suits. Here, 8♦ 8♦ 8♥ 8♣ is an invalid set as there are two cards of the same suit - 8♦.

Example #2: Declaring without Sequence
10♥ is the Wild Joker
8♦ 8♠ 8♥ | A♦ A♠ A♥ | 9♥ 9♣ 9♥ | 5♦ 5♠ 5♥ 10♥|
There are no sequences in this example. In order to make a valid declaration, there have to be at least two sequences, out of which one has to be a pure sequence.

Example #3: Declaring without Two Sequences
10♥ is the Wild Joker
A♥ 2♥ 3♥ 4♥ | 4♣ 4♠ 10♥ | 8♦ 8♠ 8♥ | 3♦ 3♠ 3♥ |
There is only one sequence in this example. In order to make a valid declaration, there has to be at least one pure sequence (without Joker) and another sequence (with or without Joker). Here, there is only one sequence, and you need to have at least two to make a valid declaration.

Example #4: Declaring without Pure Sequence
10♥ is the Wild Joker
A♥ 2♥ 3♥ 10♥ | 4♣ 5♣ 10♥ | 8♦ 8♠ 8♥ | 3♦ 3♠ 3♥ |
There is no pure sequence in this example. In order to make a valid declaration, there has to be at least one pure sequence (without Joker) and another sequence (with or without Joker). Here, there is only an impure sequence, and there is no pure sequence. Learn these examples and learn how to play rummy card game without making an invalid declaration.

Points in Rummy

Point calculation is the final aspect in rummy. Learn the rummy rules on how to calculate points at the end of each game.

Winning Points: The winner gets zero points

Losing Points: The loser/losers get total points based on their card values.

High-Value Cards
As of all suits carry 10 points each
Ks of all suits carry 10 points each
Qs of all suits carry 10 points each
Js of all suits carry 10 points each

All jokers, both wild and printed, have zero points.

Other Cards
All other cards have the same points as their numerical face value

For example:
8♥ has 8 points
2♠ has 2 points

In 13 cards game rummy, if the losing player does not have two sequences along with a pure sequence, the value of all the cards is added (capped at 80 points). However, if the losing player has formed two or more sequences along with a pure sequence, then only the points of the cards that are not in sequence or set are counted in 13 card rummy game. Check out the examples below and learn how to play rummy card game with the right calculation of points.

For example:
If the losing player has the following group of cards, then he/she loses 46 points.
Wild Joker: Q♦
A♥ 2♥ 3♥ | 5♣ 6♣ Q♦ | 8♦ 8♠ 4♣ | 3♦ 3♣ | K♠ Q♠
Here, the losing player has two sequences - one pure sequence A♥ 2♥ 3♥ and an impure sequence 5♣ 6♣ Q♦. Since the player has two sequences along with a pure sequence, only the points of the unmatched cards will be counted – 8 (8♦) + 8 (8♠) + 4 (4♣) + 3 (3♦) + 3 (3♣) + 10 (K♠) + 10 (Q♠) = 46 points.

Maximum Limit of Points
In 13 card game rummy, a player can get a maximum of 80 points irrespective of the number of high-value cards in his/her hand.

Wrong Declaration:
If a player has declared without completing the objective or without forming correct sequences and/or sets, he/she will be penalized with 80 points.

First Drop: A player gets 20 points if he drops during the very first turn, without picking a card from the Open Deck.

Middle Drop: If a player drops out of the game after the first turn, he/she gets 40 points.

Consecutive Misses: If a player misses three consecutive turns, he/she gets a middle drop and is automatically dropped out of the rummy game.

Losing Players with a Valid Hand: Players who declare second with a valid hand get 2 points. So, if you win a game against players who also have a valid hand, the losing players with valid hands get two points.

Leave Table: You will get a Middle Drop of 40 points if you leave the table after drawing a card from the Closed Deck. However, if you leave or drop without seeing the card, you will get the First Drop of 20 points.

Calculation in Cash Rummy

When you play online rummy for real cash, the points system in cash rummy is based on a pre-decided rupee value. The sole winner wins the entire cash amount lost by the losing players at the end of every game. Learn how to play rummy by calculating points in cash rummy games:

Let us examine a scenario where 4 players are playing rummy games for real cash on a Rs.160 table with Rs.2 per point. If a player wins the game and other 3 players lose with 20, 40 and 50 points, then the winning cash will be calculated as: 2 x (20 + 40 +50) = Rs220. This winning amount will be added to the winner’s account after the deduction of JungleeRummy Fee.

So, these are all the rummy card game rules on how to play rummy game. If you have any queries regarding rummy rules, please Contact Us. We will help you to teach how to play rummy with more details and comprehensive game rules.